Understanding "recycled" chassis drivetrains

Hello all,

I have a quick question about how the auto manufacturers use a single chassis for multiple cars.

For example, Honda uses the same chassis (apparently) for the CR-V and the Civic, or at least did at one point.

In an application like this, are drivetrains interchangeable? For example, if I had a Civic transmission, could I drop it into the CR-V? (assuming they both had the same power-to-the-wheels approach, i.e. both AWD or both not)

Similarly, the Honda Odyssey is supposedly based on the Accord chassis. Could I use an Accord tranny in the Odyssey?

Thanks in advance,
Josh

In article >, Josh wrote:
> Hello all,
>
> I have a quick question about how the auto manufacturers use a single chassis for multiple cars.
>
> For example, Honda uses the same chassis (apparently) for the CR-V and the Civic, or at least did at one point.
>
> In an application like this, are drivetrains interchangeable? For example, if I had a Civic transmission, could I drop it into the CR-V? (assuming they both had the same power-to-the-wheels approach, i.e. both AWD or both not)
>
> Similarly, the Honda Odyssey is supposedly based on the Accord chassis. Could I use an Accord tranny in the Odyssey?

It depends on the specifics what will just fit into what with swapping
parts. There are no general answers.

Josh wrote:
> Hello all,
>
> I have a quick question about how the auto manufacturers use a single
> chassis for multiple cars.
>
> For example, Honda uses the same chassis (apparently) for the CR-V and
> the Civic, or at least did at one point.
>
> In an application like this, are drivetrains interchangeable? For
> example, if I had a Civic transmission, could I drop it into the CR-V?
> (assuming they both had the same power-to-the-wheels approach, i.e. both
> AWD or both not)
>
> Similarly, the Honda Odyssey is supposedly based on the Accord chassis.
> Could I use an Accord tranny in the Odyssey?
>
> Thanks in advance,
> Josh

yes. no. maybe.

Sometimes, the cars are virtually the same other than decals, other
times you'd never guess it's the same platform.

Best way is to get the shop manuals for both, interchange manuals, or
wander around the junkyard or find a forum on the specific models you
seek to crossbreed.

Another way would be to do parts lookups on both. Even then, just
because they both use the same oil filter doesn't mean anything...

It really is a case of yes. no. maybe.

Ray

Josh > wrote in
:

> Hello all,
>
> I have a quick question about how the auto manufacturers use a single
> chassis for multiple cars.
>
> For example, Honda uses the same chassis (apparently) for the CR-V and
> the Civic, or at least did at one point.



It would be more accurate to say the CR-V shares its structure and engine
family with the Integra/RSX (which are themselves Civic-based).



>
> In an application like this, are drivetrains interchangeable? For
> example, if I had a Civic transmission, could I drop it into the CR-V?
> (assuming they both had the same power-to-the-wheels approach, i.e.
> both AWD or both not)



No. Not without at least some machine-shop fabrication, anyway.

The Civic uses totally different engines and transmissions from the
CR-V/Integra/RSX.

CR-V transmissions have different ratios from Integra/RSX ones.



>
> Similarly, the Honda Odyssey is supposedly based on the Accord
> chassis. Could I use an Accord tranny in the Odyssey?
>


That _may_ be doable, but you'd have to prepare yourself for at least some
fabrication, plus you'd probably be dealing with different ratios there,
too.


--
Tegger

On Feb 25, 11:21*pm, Josh > wrote:
> Hello all,
>
> I have a quick question about how the auto manufacturers use a single chassis for multiple cars.
>
> For example, Honda uses the same chassis (apparently) for the CR-V and the Civic, or at least did at one point.
>
> In an application like this, are drivetrains interchangeable? *For example, if I had a Civic transmission, could I drop it into the CR-V? *(assuming they both had the same power-to-the-wheels approach, i.e. both AWD or both not)
>
> Similarly, the Honda Odyssey is supposedly based on the Accord chassis. *Could I use an Accord tranny in the Odyssey?
>
> Thanks in advance,
> Josh

sometimes yes, sometimes no, sometimes depends. sometimes it's a
direct fit, sometimes you need to swap engine mounts, shift linkage,
axles, etc., sometimes the closest connection between the two was way
back on the drafting table.